Brake mechanism



Oct. 31, 1950 R. BUCKENDALE BRAKE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

LAWRENCE R. fiL/C/(E/YDEILL ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1950 L. R; BUCKENDALE BRAKE MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LA WRE/VCE R. fil/C/fE/VDAL:

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 31 1950 1 UNITED {STATES eoFFlcE BRAKE MECHANISM Lawrence R. Buckeiidale, Detroit, Michg'assignor a to The Timken Detroit Axle Company, Detroit, Mich, a'corporation of v Application April 9, 1945, S eri al No.': l87,324

12 Claims.

This invention relates to brake mechanism, designed more particularly for application to heavy duty vehicles, or other uses where the eflicent braking of heavy loads is required.

,In brake mechanism for trucks, buses and other heavy duty vehiclestof the internal expanding type, it has heretofore been thecommon practice to employ an oversize brake drum with a single'pneumatically or hydraulically actuated braking unit mounted therein and embodying two or more circumferentially spaced'brake shoes. Such large heavy brake drums materially in.- crease the weightof the vehicle, and asithebrake assembly required supportexternally of theibrake the making of necessary adjustments to compensate for brake lining wear was a difficult and laborious task, necessitating partial .disas; ,sembly. I r t Therefore, it is a general aim and purpose'of the present invention to overcome the above objections by the provision of a duplex braking mechanism embodyingtwo. separate braking unit assemblies mounted in axially spaced apart'rela} tion within a common brake drum of standard size or diameter and with the respective sets of brake shoes in such relation with each other and the drum wall that mechanical stresses incident to the application of braking torque will be sub stantially uniformly distributed through the wall of the brake drum both ,cir'cumfere'ntially and axially thereof and reaction forces on theparts 101 the braking units equalized. Y

It is another important object of my invention .to provide easily accessible means for quickly adjusting the brake shoes of both the innerand outer brake unit assemblies tocompensate vfor lining wear and which will not require the disassembly of any of the parts of either brakin'g'unit. Itis a further objectof the invention to provide a duplex brake mechanism, in which the several parts of the two braking units are mounted in accurately assembled relation to each other upon a common adaptor sleeve rigidly 'fixed which the several mechanical parts are offsimple and durable; structural form so that long life and consistently efilcient functional service is realized :at minimum maintenance expense.

. Withthe above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the improved brake shoe mechanism and in' the construction and relative arrangement of its severalparts, as will herein ,aft'er'jbe' more fullydescribed, illustrated in' the accompanying drawings and subsequently in corporated in the subjoined claims.

'n th: drawingswherein'l have illustrated one simple landpractical embodiment of my invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 7

Figure 3' is a fragmentary transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1';

Figure lis a transverse section. taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and Figure 5' is'an inner end elevation showing a common fluid operated actuating unit for the two brake assembly units.

Referringinfurther detail to the drawings, for convenientillustration, one practical appli; c'atio'nof theinvention as a vehicle wheel brake iiisshown; As seen in Figure l, the vehicle axle shaft I0 is rigidly connected at its extremity by means of suitable bolts [2 to the outer end of a wheelhub 14 of standard construction which is rotatably supported in conventional manner, by

infeans of the suitable anti-friction bearings upon the end of the axlejhousing I6, To the inner end jof th'e wheel hub 14,1 the outerend of an axially eljong e d brake drum i8 isrigidly bolted as at I91 oil 'slinger Zl is securedfor rotation with hub 4:120 Y prevent oil from the bearings inside the tub from enteringthe brake assembly. For the purposeof quickly and accurately assembling thebrake drum with my novel braking mechanism, all partsof said mechanism are pref erably mounted'upon a single adapter member, which, as .hereinshown, is in the form of a sleeve 20 surrounding the axle housing I 6 and welded or otherwise rigidly fixedthereto. Intermediate of "its ends this. adapter, is provided with integral longitudinally spaced radial flanges 22 and 24 respectively, disposed in parallel planes normal tofthe sleeve 'axis l lpon each. of these sleeve of the drum will be called the inner brake as.- sembly. Sleeve could equally well be mounted on a trailer axle.

Preferably, the two brake unit assemblies are of the same construction, each comprising 'apair of brake shoes 26 mounted at diametrically opposite sides of the axle housing for movement toward and away from the inner wall of the brake drum I8. The shoes of the outer brake assembly are actuated by levers 28, while those of the inner brake assembly are actuated by the levers 3fl. These levers in turn are actuatedby'p'neumati- 'cally or hydraulically operated means 'tobe presently described. 'Each pf the' levers Hand 30 is preferably similar in construction to the brake applying leversshown in the UnitedStates Letters Patent to Alden et al. No. 2,337,070, December 21, 1943, and is provided with a saddle 32 upon which the associated brakeshoe is rockably and slidably supported. I I v I Above the axle hous'ingand at oppositesides of a vertical plane which includes theaxisthereof, the flanges 22 and 24 are apertured to rotat- 'a'blyreceive the two parallel anchorpins '34,- the respective pins being'comm'on to the .innerand outer brake shoe actuating levers :at relatively opposite sides of the'drum axis. Upon ieach anchor pin'34, an"abutment member36 is'pivoted and isassociated with the-upper" end of one of the levers 28 of the outer braking unit to'cooperate with the upper endof the'associated brake shoe. The levers 28 are provided with elongated openings38 which permit of limited movement of the upper ends of the levers relative to'said pins in the brake applying and retracting movement of said levers.

I A separate pivoted abutment member '40 is also associated with each of the levers 30 of the inner braking unit, each said abutment member and the upper end of associated lever30 being .piv-

*otally mounted upon an eccentric portion 42 of one of theanchor pins '34. At the inner sides of the levers 30,. the twoanchor pins, 34 are c'onnected by the reinforcing tie member 44. Abutment members Land 52 slidably engage the opposite ends of inner shoes-Q26. j

At its outer end each of the anchorpins '34. is threaded to receive anut 46, and when these nuts are tightened, locking 'flanges on said pins are pulled into tight engagement with the flange 24 on the adapter sleeveto positivelylockthe .pins '34 against rotation and in adjusted condition. This locking means is similar to that "shown in the above 'identified patent to which reference tive levers, said levers being provided with the elongated openings 54 permitting brake applying and retracting movement thereof relative to the anchor pin 50. The inner ends of these pins are also connected by a reinforcing tie member 56.

I It will be readily understood from the above that by loosening the nut 46 and applying a wrench to the squared "end 48 of either anchor pin 34, said pin may be rotated so that the eccentric portion 42 thereof coacting with the abutment Y40 and the upper end of the lever 30 adjustably positions said lever and the brake shoe relative to the wall of the drum l8 to compensate for lining wear. Rotation of pins 34 does not change the condition of adjustment of the outer brake assembly because the pins 34 are cylindrical and concentric where they pass therethrough. If desired, the eccentric 42 may have.

eccentric portions of relatively different diameters and'different angular relation coacting respectivelywi-ththe lever 30 and abutment 'member 40 to-adjust the positions-of the upper end of the levers and the brake shoe relative to each other and with respect to the axis of the anchor pin, as irrthe manner fully described in Patent 2,337,070.

"Thelevers28of theouter brake assembly are also pivotally mounted-at their lower'ends-u pon relatively short anchor pins 58 rotatablyl-sup- "ported in the flange--22 of the adapter sleeve 20 in substantial vertical-alignment with the upper anchor pins "34 and "in axial alignment *with'the pins"50. An-abutmentmember Si] is pivoted on each of thepins'*58 to slidably coact with the lower-end 0 f the'associatedbrake shoe 2% associated with the respective levers, saidabutments being pivoted upon eccentric portions 62 of the 'pins'58. Eccentrics 62also extend into suitable surrounding openings in the lower ends of the levers 28 in similar manner-to thead-ju'sting eccentrics 42 .for the levers 30"of the inner'brake applying unit. 7

The inner ends of theanchor pins 58 are connected by the reinforcing "tie member 64 and {their outer ends'are, threaded'to receive *the'nuts 66, said pins'terminating in the "squared wrench engaging terminals '68. Means for IOCkiIlg the anchor pins 50 against ro'tationr'elative to the flange 22*When the 'nuts tfi are tightened are s'imilar*tc,\ that providedfor the anchor pins34. It will thus be understood that the brake shoes and actuating levers of the outer brake assembly mayalso be readily adjusted by loosening the nuts 66 and rotating the pins-58 to position the eccentrics 62 relative to the axes .thereof,'as previouslyidescribed in connection with the adjustment ofthe inner brake -"assembly units. 'isince the adjusting means for the, pinsi34 as well. as

may be had for a detail understanding thereof.

' thereto. 7

Attheir lower ends,.the levers'30.of the inner br ke assembly are mounted upon the relatively short anchor pins 50fwhich are respectivlysub- "stantially in vertical .alignment with one of the upper anchor pins 34. fAbutment'members 52 pivoted on pins 50 coact with the lower ends of the brake shoes26 associatedwith the respecthe adjustingymeans 'for the lpins58 are easily accessibleat the openend of the brake .druml'B, the necessary adjustment of the inner brake unit assembly maybe easily and quickly made, without necessitating di'sassemblyofanyof the parts of the outer brake junit assembly. 7

,Upon the outer'sides of the flanges 22 and 24, suitable bearing means for the actuator, shafts "for the outer and inner brakeassemblies, respectively, are mounted.

' Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 4 of the 'clra'wingafthe actuator shaft 10 for the outer brake assembly is jdurnalled in one or more 7 needle bearing assemblies 14 in an elongated bearing housing. 72, 'said'housing being provided mounted at theirendsupon the anchor pins and secured rigidly against the face of the flange 122 by means of nuts 46'. The bearing housing I2 is also provided with an integral support portion I8 for a pneumatic pistonand cylinder assembly 7 88, the piston thereof being operatively'connected by a rod I9 with the end of a crank arm or lever 82 fixed to the'end of the shaft I8 outside flange 22. A suitable actuator and shaft operating con nection of this type is disclosed in United States Letters Patent to Alden Patent No. 2,287,009. A cylindrical head 84 keyed for rotation with the inner end of the shaft I8 is operatively connected with the upper ends of the levers 28 of the outer brake assembly by means of the links 86 pivotally connected at their remote ends with the respective levers and having their adjacent ends piv- 'otally connected with the head 84 above and I below the shaft 18.

" The actuator shaft 98 for the inner brake as- -ner on the outer ends of the lower anchor pins 58 and rigidly secured in position upon the flange 24 by the nuts I88 threaded upon the outer ends of said pins. The housing 88 contains the single needle bearing annulus I82 in which the inner end of actuator shaft 98 is journalled.

As seen in Figure 1, shaft 88 has a reduced extension I83 projecting inwardly fromthe housing 98 upon which a cylindrical head I84 similar to head 84 is drivingly mounted. The shaft 98 is formed with aflange I85 at the inner side of the bearing sleeve 98 whichis provided with a diametral locking key or-xrib I86 .to be received in a groove formed in the adjacent side of thehead ;I84. A strong coil spring I88. between the nuts I.I8 threaded upon the reduced end of the shaft 98 and adjacent side of the head I84 urgessaid --head which is otherwise. axially movable relative to flange I85 into locked engagement with key or rib I 86. The head 84 is locked to the actuator shaft 18 for the outer brake assembly in similar manner.

Links I I2 have their remote ends pivotally conv nectedwith the lower ends of the brake shoe actuating levers .38 .while. their adjacent ends are pivotally connected with head I84 above and below the actuator shaft 88.

Bearing housing 92 is also provided with an integral support portion II4 for mounting the pneumaticzor hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly I I6, the piston rod-I I5 of which is operatively connected with the crank arm or lever I I8 fixed to the end of the actuator shaft 9 8 outside flange 24.

The brake shoe actuating levers of the outer and inner brake assemblies are respectively connected at the ends thereof adjacent the shafts I8 and 98, respectively, by means of the springs I I8 and I28, respectively, which normally hold the leversand brake shoes in retracted position with respect to the wall of the drum I8.

It will be understood from the above that, when pressure fluid such as air is simultaneously supplied to the cylinders 88 and H6, the actuator head 84 of shaft 18 will'be rotated in an anticlockwise direction to actuate the levers 28 a nd 6 shoes 28 of the outer. brake assembly unitwh'ile simultaneously the actuator head :'I 84 of theshafit 98 is rotated in a clockwise direction to actuate the levers 38 and brake shoes 26 ofthe inner brake assembly unit. Thus there is simultaneous and equal expansion of the brake shoes soitthat substantially equal braking contact-and pressure of the brake shoe linings of both assemblies with the wall of the brake drum-will be obtained -In view of the symmetrical mountinglof. thecinn'er and outer brake assemblies-with respect to the axis of the drum and the arrangement .ofthe two sets of brake shoes longitudinally of the drum wall, an advantageous distributionof dynamic forces is obtained, limiting reaction stresses upon the brake assemblies and also more uniformly distributing strain incident to high braking torque both circumferentially and longitudinally of the drum wall.

It will be understood that the construction: of the individual'brake units'at leversv 28 and. 38* is not part of the present invention as each'maybe the same as the unit disclosed in said Patent No.

. 2,337,070. Furthermore the particular selfcentering head construction at 84 and I84Jdoes not comprise by itself part of the presentainvention as this construction is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 569,392, filed December 22, 1944, now United [States Letters Patent No. 2,435,955, granted February 17, 1948. The present invention relates'however' to the novel combination of these parts'and'other parts of the structure herein disclosedfforl obtaining efficient and practical brake mechanism. Especially novel is the arrangementlfor making the lining wear adjustment for the inner brake assembly always instantly available, and the structure permitting this operation. g

In Figure 5 of the drawings a slight modification is illustrated in which, instead of/twoiseparate fluid operated cylinderand piston unit's-for the respective brake assemblies, afsinglez double acting unit is provided in which the cylinder I22 is supported between laterally extending'support brakets I24 andl25' rigid with the upperand lower bearing housings I2 and 92, while oppositely acting pistons in said cylinder are operatively connected by piston rods I26 and I2! to the crank arms or levers 82 and II8.of shafts 'Ifl and 98, respectively. I a 3 y" From the foregoing descriptions and the ac- -,com-panying drawings, the-construction, operation and several advantages of the present invention may be readily understood. It will be :seen that I have devised a compact brakemechanism, in which two completeb'rake unit assemblies are operatively mounted in side by side relation within a brake drum of comparatively small diameter, and without requiring the use of special bearing or supporting means externally of the brake drum. At the same time, thepresent invention provides easily accessible means ati the open end of the brake drum, requiring no especial skill for its operation, whereby both of the brake assemblies may be easily and quickly adjusted to compensate for lining wear and insure maximum efficiency in the operation thereof. This novel adjusting means for the brake assemblies eliminates the necessity of disassembling any of the parts of the outer brake assemblyunitin order to obtain access to the adjusting means for the inner brake assembly unit. Also by operatively mounting both of thebraking units upon acornmon adapter sleeve, the brake mechanism may be readily applied to a wheel axle housingfof standard construction with the requisite'stability .':=or:the:-twobrake applying; unitsmndenaH snormal -;ccndition's .of operation; ;It-,wi1l further melan- Veparent: that, ai-brakingmechanism embodying the move-l featuresiiof :this invention is particularly adesirlable =:for zuseiin'rconnection with heavy duty vehicles where, positive ;op eration and high break,-

ingaefiiciencyr: are; essential requisites- Although these: functional'zattributesizare inherent: irrgthe present invention, itherorganization 5 as a whole is of comparativelyszsmall, size .and wil1 ';oc c,upy -3, minimum of?spacerin;the' vehicle and axle assembly. i :Also :thecseveral mechanical parts of the mechanism areofgrugged and durablestructural iorm so that ZI'BliHblG ;;operational performance with lowmaintenance cost will ,be realized,

.xThe :inventionzamay -be' embodied in iother gspecific forms without-departing. from the spirit oreessentia-l;characteristics: thereof. The present embodiments are therefore tome/con i ed in aller'espects;asgillustrative and. not restrictive; the :scope of the inventions-being indicated by the appended claims rather than-,by theaforegoing description, andpall-e changes which come; within the: meaning andi-xrange "of equivalency of the c1aims are" therefore intended". to ,be embraced therein.

What is claimesctza'nd desired to be,- secured by United StatesiLettersPatentis: V

, 1.'-In -brake mechanism, ,a drum, inner: and "outer tibraking unit assemblies and means ;:f or "mounting :jsaid assemblies in side-by-side relatiorrwithin thedrum'; :each assembly including a plurality of brake shoes and ran actuating lever 'forzeach brakeshoe; said mounting means comprising anchor: pins common to the corresponding actuating *leversoi: the innerandiouter unit assemblies, .eacliichavingrrterminal meansat the open end of the [drum wherebysaid :pins may be 'rotated, and Emeansgoperatively connected with said-anchor pins and ,coacting'awith the respective "bra-keshoes aanda'actuating levers of the inner .iunit assembly to *aidjustably-position lsaid -;inn.er

brakeshoes relativefto the drum-and compensate for wear.

2.Brake'mechanism as defined in claim 1, to-

gether 'with' additional :anchor pins individual to said-corresponding actuating levers and circumzferentially'spaced from ,said'common anchor :pins;:said additional anchor pins-for the levers of the outer braking unit having terminalmeans :at the open end of the drum to rotate said. pins wand means ".coacting with i the respective brake :shoes and actuating -le-vers of the outer braking innit to adjustably'position the same relative to fithedrum Wall.

3i'In a vehicle brake, an adapter member ":adapted to be secured to-a non-rotatable axle part, axially 'spac'edsmounting means on's'aid member, separately operable brake assemblies mounted on said mounting "means-"actuating means for one oisaid brake assemblies 's'upported .by one of saidmounting mea'ns, actuating means for the other of said-brake "assemblies supported by. bothof said mounting means, and means for adjusting Said Qther brake assembly movably mounted on both of saidmounting means; T Q4. In ,brakepmechanism; an adapter jmemb'er,

two braking units each comprising aplurality of brake shoes and actuating leversltherefor opera- .tively. mounted ineside-by1side.relation.up0n said ,adapter member; bearing means lassociatediwith the. respective .units a.- common means .anchoring said levers'and bearing means, of itherespective aunits to theadapter member,landqindividual sactuator shafts-fort the shoe actuatingl levers of ti e mestsq iv uni sti umall tim ai s earin 5.; Brake -mechanism asdefinedin claim 4,-to-

- connectedto.. aidshafts. I

6 brake me cha-nism, van

,gether with; fl1 1i :l.-. pressure operated means mounted on the adapter member and operatively h adapter sleeve for application to a vehicle axle housing, saidssleeve having longitudinally spaced flanges, independentl operablebraking unit assemblies and means -rnou nting said assembliesin side-by-side relation on said flangessaid mounting meansfincluding anchoring-memberscommon to both of said assemblis rotatably supported in v.eachof said flanges and having meansv coacting with, onesof said braking unit assemblies to adjust the s ame in-a plane normal to the sleeve axis, additional means .rotatably, mounted in one .of. saidlsleeve flanges for adjusting the other Ofsaid-braking unitassemblies relative to the sleeve axisp-and individual actuating means for the respective braking units mounted on the adaptersleevQ I p In brake mechanism, anadapter sleeveQfor application to a vehicle axle housing, aplurality of braking unit assemblies and means formounting said assemblieson the adapter sleeve in sidein-si rsl tip o ;.in sp d lopa a xi planes normal to the sleeve axis, each of said assemblies including a plurality ;of brake-g sh oes in symmetrical I relation to; the sleeve axis, and said mounting means comprising two adjusting members individual to therespective brakin lunit assemblies rotatably supported upon saidadapter sleeve.

8. Braking mechanism as defined in claim 7;:in which the said-members at the same, endcoithe adaptersleeve are each provided with a terminal operating part manually accessible at the .open end of a brake drum cooperatively associated with said braking unit assemblies.

:9. Ina brake assembly .for associationlwithqa sin'glebrake. drum, a non-rotatable axle part having'two axially spaced radial flanges thereon,. a

first pairaofxcircumferentially spaced anchor pins each 'rotatably mounted ineach of csaidvfianges and having adjacentterminals for rotational adsjustment ofv said ipins, a second pair of l circum- "ferentially spaced anchor. pins mountedton one-of 1 said'fianges, an inner brake shoe assembly includ- 1mg a; fir.st;.pair of brake levers having adjacent ends pivotally connected to said first lpair of anchor pins, a third pair .of circumferentially spaced anchor pins, adjustablyrotatable on. the other of said flangesand having adjacent terminals for rotational adjustment of said pins, an outer brake shoe assembly including a second pairof brake leverspivotally connectedto said -,third pair, of anchor pins, .coacting means on said adjustable anchor; pins and brake assemblies whereby rotation of ,said, pins .efiects adjustment of thebrakeshoesj in said assemblies toward: and from said drum'; means associated with said-first pair of brake levers and extending through .said

euter brake ,shoe assembly for actuating .said '65,

inner-shoe, brake assembly, and means associated with said second pair ct -levers for actuating'said outer; brake "shoe assembly, both said pairs of adjustable-anchor pin terminals being available .loutwardly of'said outer brake shoe assembly.

10. In a brake apparatus, a pair of axially spaced supports, a lcircu mferentially spacedfirst pair of anchor pins-adjustably rotatable in both of said supports, a circum-ferentially spaced secondpair of anchor pins adjustably rotatable Je n S i Su p rt a t ai of brake Shoe actuating levers pivoted on said first pair of anchor pins, brake shoe abutments rockably mounted on' said pins, brake shoes rockably and slidably connected to said levers and slidably connected to said abutments, an actuator connected to the ends of said levers opposite their pivots on said first pair of anchor pins, a third pair of anchor pins adjustably rotatable in the other of said supports, a second pair of brake actuating levers pivoted atone end on said third pair of anchor-pins, further brake shoe abutments rockably mounted on said first and third pairs of anchor pins, and brake shoes rockably and slidably connected to said second pair of levers and slidably connected to said further abutments.

11. Brake apparatus adapted to be mounted within a rotatable brake drum having an open end comprising a pair of individual brake assemblies mounted side by side in axially spaced relation and adapted to be positioned in the space within said drum, each of said brake assemblies comprising a pair of brake shoe actuating levers separately and adjacently pivoted at one end and connected to an actuator at the other end and adjustment mechanism for varying the relation of said shoes with respect to said drum, and means extending from the adjustment mechanism of the inner brake assembly through the pivot axes of the levers of the outer brake assembly to be available at the open end of said drum for adjustment of the inner brake assembly without dismantling or adjusting the outer brake assembly.

12. In the brake apparatus defined in claim 11, said last means comprising a pair of rotatable anchor pins having eccentrics upon which the levers of the inner brake assembly are journaled and thereby constitute part of said adjustment mechanism and which pins pass through suitable apertures in the levers of the outer brake assembly to said open end of the drum.

LAWRENCE R. BUCKENDALE.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 970,738 Nelson Sept. 20, 1910 1,449,844 Tansey Mar. 2'7, 1923 1,486,611 Stewart Mar. 11, 1924 1,508,737 White Sept. 16, 1924 1,879,434 Norton Sept. 2'7, 1932 1,937,691 Girling Dec. 5, 1933 2,366,946 Whitacre Jan. 9, 1945 2,381,737 Goepfrich et a1 Aug. 7, 1945 2,384,614 Forbes Sept. 11, 1945 2,435,955 Buckendale et al. Feb. 17, 1948 

